AN// This is a continuation of the That First Step... (SI). You want to start there. I would...
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AN// This is a continuation of the That First Step... (SI). You want to start there. I would also like to thank everyone that have helped me beta this story, without you guys it would be a lot worse.
Now, on with the story!
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I slowly found myself waking up to the sound of creaking wood and rope. Huh? Oh yeah. Ship. Slowly and carefully I moved to sit up, swinging my feet over the edge before running my silver hand through my hair, gathering it all up and tying it back into my normal ponytail.
Glancing to the side revealed that Ren and Sheila's hammocks were already empty. Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I did my best to ignore my growing headache. Two weeks since I was last in my real form, and only long enough to turn a bronze cannon into a new foreleg, at that.
After two weeks, the constant pressure of being in mortal form caused headaches to start. After three weeks, it got really bad.
Four weeks was hell.
Getting up with a small groan, I stretched and headed towards the stairs leading up on deck. The weather outside was actually quite nice, if warmer than I would have prefered. The sun was shining, and there were a couple of clouds in the sky. Not that many, though, most people would find the weather kind of pleasant, especially with the wind taking away most of the sting of the sun.
Being a blue dragon, though, I was more comfortable ten degrees below the freezing point of water, so I had to admit it was a bit too warm for my preferences.
Looking around, I tried to locate my current objectives; consorts, something to drink and something to eat.
Climbing up the stairs onto the raised rear deck of the ship, I walked up next to Sheila, "Morning."
"Midday more like it," she said with a smile, "Even Ren was up before you this time, lazy lizard."
I just grinned and stole a quick kiss, "Not everyone was raised on a farm, love."
She sighed and turned her back to the ocean, leaning against the railing as she looked up at me, "I still have trouble sleeping past sunrise. And I moved away from home fifteen years ago!"
"Time as a mercenary didn't help, I suspect", I said and brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her left ear, "So where did Ren run off to?"
"Scaring up some food in the galley," Sheila said with a smile, "I think she's tired of porridge and biscuits."
"Scaring the cook more like it," I chuckled before I shook my head, "Well, more variation would be nice."
*Ding Ding!*
"AHOY! SHIP ON THE HORIZON!"
I glanced up towards the lookout at the top of the main mast. Ship huh? Slowly turning, I scanned the horizon and it didn't take long until I spotted the speck just becoming visible in the direction we were traveling in.
"You spotted it?" Sheila asked as she moved to look in the same direction I was.
"Yeah, just about. No details, it's just at the horizon…" I said and shook my head, before spotting Alexis moving to the bow of the ship while carrying a spyglass, "Let's go check with Alexis. I mean, even if I saw a flag I wouldn't be able to tell if they were friendly or not."
Nodding, Sheila lead the way over to the ship's captain. I quickly followed her along the deck, doing my best to stay out of the way of the crew as they were scrambling to positions.
"Morning Captain," I said as we reached my fellow Planeswalker. While she originated from a Plane similar or almost identical to the modern Earth I was from originally, she had been stuck on this world for a bit over five years. That's one reason why she had this ship after all; she'd had plenty of time to gather favours, money, and powers here.
Alexis glanced up from the spyglass briefly, "Morning," she said, "Finally decided to wake up?"
"I didn't sleep that long…" I grumbled and moved to stand next to her, "See anything?"
"Still a bit far away," Alexis answered and lowered her spyglass, "Can't see the colors yet. You?"
"Not clearly," I admitted, "But luckily I can fix that."
We were in the middle of the fricking ocean, so I barely even needed to pull to gather a bit of blue mana. Sending a scrying viewpoint flying quickly towards the horizon, I held my silver hand forward, forming a viewing sphere in the air above it.
Some ten or so seconds later, the viewpoint finally moved close to the ship, flying along it so Alexis could get a good look at it, along with the red flag with the golden crown in the middle.
Alexis slid a hand down to rest on the hilt of her sword, "That's a merchantman from Aridia."
Her first officer Boltar spoke up from her other side, "Heavy in the water too, Captain. She's carrying cargo."
Alexis slowly nodded in thought, before she looked over at me and Sheila, "She's a good target."
I looked at the ship through the viewing portal before sending the viewpoint into the ship through the hull. Seriously, this wasn't even remotely fair. They didn't have any kind of scrying protection.
"Hmh, are those spices?" I asked, "It's a bit dark, but those look like spices to me. And food. If I'm not wrong those are bales of cloth as well."
Boltar looked like he wanted to sell me his right arm to learn how to use the scrying spell, then he looked at Alexis, "That's a perfect target, Captain."
I shrugged, "We're guests, Alexis. If you want to go after that ship, go ahead."
She looked at the scrying portal for a moment before she looked over at Boltar, "Get the men ready, but keep things quiet for now. The closer we get before we raise the black, the better. We have a prize to catch."
"Yes, Captain!"
He hurried off to get everyone ready, as Alexis turned to us, "Thank you. It'll help morale quite a bit, the loss of the silver and the cannon wasn't popular."
"The ship is hungry, time to catch some prey," I said and brought the viewpoint back out, moving it around the ship to look for cannons, "Want some help?"
That got a small smile from Alexis, "Dragons. Yes please."
Now, on with the story!
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I slowly found myself waking up to the sound of creaking wood and rope. Huh? Oh yeah. Ship. Slowly and carefully I moved to sit up, swinging my feet over the edge before running my silver hand through my hair, gathering it all up and tying it back into my normal ponytail.
Glancing to the side revealed that Ren and Sheila's hammocks were already empty. Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I did my best to ignore my growing headache. Two weeks since I was last in my real form, and only long enough to turn a bronze cannon into a new foreleg, at that.
After two weeks, the constant pressure of being in mortal form caused headaches to start. After three weeks, it got really bad.
Four weeks was hell.
Getting up with a small groan, I stretched and headed towards the stairs leading up on deck. The weather outside was actually quite nice, if warmer than I would have prefered. The sun was shining, and there were a couple of clouds in the sky. Not that many, though, most people would find the weather kind of pleasant, especially with the wind taking away most of the sting of the sun.
Being a blue dragon, though, I was more comfortable ten degrees below the freezing point of water, so I had to admit it was a bit too warm for my preferences.
Looking around, I tried to locate my current objectives; consorts, something to drink and something to eat.
Climbing up the stairs onto the raised rear deck of the ship, I walked up next to Sheila, "Morning."
"Midday more like it," she said with a smile, "Even Ren was up before you this time, lazy lizard."
I just grinned and stole a quick kiss, "Not everyone was raised on a farm, love."
She sighed and turned her back to the ocean, leaning against the railing as she looked up at me, "I still have trouble sleeping past sunrise. And I moved away from home fifteen years ago!"
"Time as a mercenary didn't help, I suspect", I said and brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her left ear, "So where did Ren run off to?"
"Scaring up some food in the galley," Sheila said with a smile, "I think she's tired of porridge and biscuits."
"Scaring the cook more like it," I chuckled before I shook my head, "Well, more variation would be nice."
*Ding Ding!*
"AHOY! SHIP ON THE HORIZON!"
I glanced up towards the lookout at the top of the main mast. Ship huh? Slowly turning, I scanned the horizon and it didn't take long until I spotted the speck just becoming visible in the direction we were traveling in.
"You spotted it?" Sheila asked as she moved to look in the same direction I was.
"Yeah, just about. No details, it's just at the horizon…" I said and shook my head, before spotting Alexis moving to the bow of the ship while carrying a spyglass, "Let's go check with Alexis. I mean, even if I saw a flag I wouldn't be able to tell if they were friendly or not."
Nodding, Sheila lead the way over to the ship's captain. I quickly followed her along the deck, doing my best to stay out of the way of the crew as they were scrambling to positions.
"Morning Captain," I said as we reached my fellow Planeswalker. While she originated from a Plane similar or almost identical to the modern Earth I was from originally, she had been stuck on this world for a bit over five years. That's one reason why she had this ship after all; she'd had plenty of time to gather favours, money, and powers here.
Alexis glanced up from the spyglass briefly, "Morning," she said, "Finally decided to wake up?"
"I didn't sleep that long…" I grumbled and moved to stand next to her, "See anything?"
"Still a bit far away," Alexis answered and lowered her spyglass, "Can't see the colors yet. You?"
"Not clearly," I admitted, "But luckily I can fix that."
We were in the middle of the fricking ocean, so I barely even needed to pull to gather a bit of blue mana. Sending a scrying viewpoint flying quickly towards the horizon, I held my silver hand forward, forming a viewing sphere in the air above it.
Some ten or so seconds later, the viewpoint finally moved close to the ship, flying along it so Alexis could get a good look at it, along with the red flag with the golden crown in the middle.
Alexis slid a hand down to rest on the hilt of her sword, "That's a merchantman from Aridia."
Her first officer Boltar spoke up from her other side, "Heavy in the water too, Captain. She's carrying cargo."
Alexis slowly nodded in thought, before she looked over at me and Sheila, "She's a good target."
I looked at the ship through the viewing portal before sending the viewpoint into the ship through the hull. Seriously, this wasn't even remotely fair. They didn't have any kind of scrying protection.
"Hmh, are those spices?" I asked, "It's a bit dark, but those look like spices to me. And food. If I'm not wrong those are bales of cloth as well."
Boltar looked like he wanted to sell me his right arm to learn how to use the scrying spell, then he looked at Alexis, "That's a perfect target, Captain."
I shrugged, "We're guests, Alexis. If you want to go after that ship, go ahead."
She looked at the scrying portal for a moment before she looked over at Boltar, "Get the men ready, but keep things quiet for now. The closer we get before we raise the black, the better. We have a prize to catch."
"Yes, Captain!"
He hurried off to get everyone ready, as Alexis turned to us, "Thank you. It'll help morale quite a bit, the loss of the silver and the cannon wasn't popular."
"The ship is hungry, time to catch some prey," I said and brought the viewpoint back out, moving it around the ship to look for cannons, "Want some help?"
That got a small smile from Alexis, "Dragons. Yes please."
"Think you can stop them in their tracks?" Alexis asked, "Are you planning on using weather magic?"
I shook my head, "Weather magic isn't exactly my cup of tea, but I have some tricks. Can't promise they'll stop, but I think they will be too confused to steer their ship," I said, and looked towards the slowly approaching vessel.
Alexis nodded and turned to Boltar, "The crew?"
"Ready, Captain," he said with a nod, "The guns are ready."
"If we do this right, we might not need them," she said, and looked towards Ren, "Shields ready?"
Rengosa nodded, having dropped the illusion covering her armour in again, "I can't promise I will be able to block a full salvo from that thing. If they have as much of a punch as Gnomish or Goblin weapons…"
"Anything you can do would be appreciated. Sheila?"
"Ready," she said and took a slow breath, "Let's do this then."
Putting a foot on the rigging, she gripped a rope for support as she peered forward towards the approaching ship, the wind tugging on her skirt and shirt.
We waited as she looked towards the ship as it got closer and closer, before she yelled back, "Mister Boltar."
He nodded and turned to yell, "Raise the black! Hard to port!"
The ship started to list, creaking hard in the wind as the men started to shift the sails around. I, on the other hand, focused on the other ship and pulled on my pools of mana. Pouring magic into an illusion spell, I wrapped it around the enemy vessel, twisting and pulling as I wove the magic into a rather simple but potent illusion I tied to the ship.
Anyone in its area of effect couldn't talk. Or rather, couldn't understand each other. Difficult to command a ship when everyone on it speaks nothing but gibberish.
There we go.
Now, to slow things down a bit…
Pulling on my magic again, I cast a second spell. This one much simpler, but also an illusion. Nothing as complex as the last one.
This one was just heightened an emotion. Dread. Not as random as fear, but just as powerful. They had already seen the flag, now we just needed to wait for…
The ship turned hard away from us. The wind caught the sails wrong, and they stopped billowing and just kind of fluttered.
Now…
Canceling the speech illusion, I stepped up and put my hand on the railing and waited. Come on… you're prey. Disabled, slower, larger, under-armed. The hunter approaches. Nothing you can do.
Do the sensible thing. Sacrifice something to get the predator to show mercy.
Their flag started to lower, and a plain white one started to raise in its place to the cheers of Alexis' crew.
There we go. I kept the illusion going a bit longer to make a point before dropping that one as well, as I glanced up towards the black flag. Alexis had an interesting one, a white wand and sword crossed on a black background with a pair of angel wings.
Hmh. She really should throw some dragons in there as well.
"Do I want to know?" Alexis asked as she stepped down, her hand lifting from her sword.
"Just some basic illusions," I said and grinned, "With no real magical defenses and not expecting it, well…"
She patted my shoulder once as she moved past with a smile, "Mister Bolton, bring us up alongside them. Men at the ready."
"Aye, Captain!"
"Expecting resistance?" I asked her quietly while keeping my eye on the prey ship.
She glanced at me briefly and then shook her head, "No. Nobody with any sense would use a false white flag. But since when does everyone have sense? But better to be careful than not."
Very true.
I shook my head, "Weather magic isn't exactly my cup of tea, but I have some tricks. Can't promise they'll stop, but I think they will be too confused to steer their ship," I said, and looked towards the slowly approaching vessel.
Alexis nodded and turned to Boltar, "The crew?"
"Ready, Captain," he said with a nod, "The guns are ready."
"If we do this right, we might not need them," she said, and looked towards Ren, "Shields ready?"
Rengosa nodded, having dropped the illusion covering her armour in again, "I can't promise I will be able to block a full salvo from that thing. If they have as much of a punch as Gnomish or Goblin weapons…"
"Anything you can do would be appreciated. Sheila?"
"Ready," she said and took a slow breath, "Let's do this then."
Putting a foot on the rigging, she gripped a rope for support as she peered forward towards the approaching ship, the wind tugging on her skirt and shirt.
We waited as she looked towards the ship as it got closer and closer, before she yelled back, "Mister Boltar."
He nodded and turned to yell, "Raise the black! Hard to port!"
The ship started to list, creaking hard in the wind as the men started to shift the sails around. I, on the other hand, focused on the other ship and pulled on my pools of mana. Pouring magic into an illusion spell, I wrapped it around the enemy vessel, twisting and pulling as I wove the magic into a rather simple but potent illusion I tied to the ship.
Anyone in its area of effect couldn't talk. Or rather, couldn't understand each other. Difficult to command a ship when everyone on it speaks nothing but gibberish.
There we go.
Now, to slow things down a bit…
Pulling on my magic again, I cast a second spell. This one much simpler, but also an illusion. Nothing as complex as the last one.
This one was just heightened an emotion. Dread. Not as random as fear, but just as powerful. They had already seen the flag, now we just needed to wait for…
The ship turned hard away from us. The wind caught the sails wrong, and they stopped billowing and just kind of fluttered.
Now…
Canceling the speech illusion, I stepped up and put my hand on the railing and waited. Come on… you're prey. Disabled, slower, larger, under-armed. The hunter approaches. Nothing you can do.
Do the sensible thing. Sacrifice something to get the predator to show mercy.
Their flag started to lower, and a plain white one started to raise in its place to the cheers of Alexis' crew.
There we go. I kept the illusion going a bit longer to make a point before dropping that one as well, as I glanced up towards the black flag. Alexis had an interesting one, a white wand and sword crossed on a black background with a pair of angel wings.
Hmh. She really should throw some dragons in there as well.
"Do I want to know?" Alexis asked as she stepped down, her hand lifting from her sword.
"Just some basic illusions," I said and grinned, "With no real magical defenses and not expecting it, well…"
She patted my shoulder once as she moved past with a smile, "Mister Bolton, bring us up alongside them. Men at the ready."
"Aye, Captain!"
"Expecting resistance?" I asked her quietly while keeping my eye on the prey ship.
She glanced at me briefly and then shook her head, "No. Nobody with any sense would use a false white flag. But since when does everyone have sense? But better to be careful than not."
Very true.
"You know," Sheila said softly, "I remember the last time we encountered pirates." We were watching the other ship as Alexis conversed with their captain, the crew gathered up in the upper hold. Alexis' crew was watching them, weapons ready
I nodded, "That was different."
"Different how, really?" She asked, and put her hands on the railing.
I frowned a bit at her, "This isn't done out of malice or greed. We aren't hurting them unncessarily, the prey was taken cleanly to feed the crew of this ship. I'm not seeing anybody getting captured and sold into slavery, this is a war thing. Besides, we are the hunters this time."
Sheila looked thoughtful as she looked down at the other ship, "Maybe. It just feels… I don't know."
"In any case, Alexis deserve our help for all she's done," Rengosa said and moved up on Sheila's other side, "That alone make this worth it."
That got a nod from Sheila.
"Sweep the hold from the aft!" Alexis yelled in command, and a dozen of her crew moved to follow her orders. She then glanced back at us and pointed at me, before motioning for me to come.
"And now she's giving orders," I sighed, "What an unusual circumstance. Being ordered around by a woman, what is the world coming to."
That got a laugh from both my consorts, and Sheila grinned, "Something you aren't used to?"
"Never happened before."
With that, I walked down from the raised superstructure, and then over the plank laid between the railings of the two ships. Jumping down onto the deck, I looked around before I moved up to Alexis and the other captain.
The other captain was a older man with longer dark hair starting to go gray, a long beard, and green eyes.
"Captain," I said, giving her a nod before doing the same to him, "Other Captain."
Alexis sighed slightly, "Atregos, let me introduce Captain Hornswallow. He wished to meet the man that created those illusions around his ship."
"I have never seen such a thing, Mister Atregos," he said, "Nor have I seen such as your hand."
I raised my silver hand turned it over, "Eh, not my best work. But it works for now. You're a mage?"
He shook his head, "No, don't have the aptitude."
"Where is your ship mage?" Alexis asked, "All ships have one. Where is yours?"
Captain Hornswallow sighed, "Not at the moment, we were on our way to find a new one. Mister Darwell was lost in a storm two weeks ago trying to keep the ship from breaking apart."
"I take it he was successful then?" I asked, and glanced around. If I was a mage looking to cause maximum confusion and damage, where would I be?
Captain Hornswallow shook his head, "Not exactly. Fell and broke his neck on his way up the stairs."
Nodding, I quickly wove a spell to let me see magic, before I slowly turned and looked around. Nothing on the deck or upper hold. Slight shine where the fabric was below decks. But it seemed to be in every crate. Enchanted fabric?
No telltale glow of a mage. At least none I could identify. Alexis, Ren, and Sheila all glowed, both them and their equipment. Alexis' sword shone like it was made of liquid moonlight.
"As far as I can see, Captain," I said, "he is telling the truth. I don't see anyone using magic onboard. The fabric seems to be enchanted, however."
That got a satisfied nod from Alexis, "Very well, Captain," she said and turned back to him, "Let's go over your cargo manifest. Let's see what you can spare for us."
He looked surprised before he nodded, "...It seems like your reputation is true, Alexis of the Angels," he said, "Very well. Let's go over the cargo manifest. Would you care for a cup of tea, my Lady?"
"Thank you, that would be lovely."
I couldn't help but be amused as the two of them left for the cabin. I was hardly worried that he would somehow overpower her. The idea was outright silly.
But it seemed Alexis had gotten herself a reputation on this Plane. A good one as well, even despite her current profession as a privateer.
Turning around, I walked to look down at the men subdued in the hold. Just stay where you are and you'll be fine.
I nodded, "That was different."
"Different how, really?" She asked, and put her hands on the railing.
I frowned a bit at her, "This isn't done out of malice or greed. We aren't hurting them unncessarily, the prey was taken cleanly to feed the crew of this ship. I'm not seeing anybody getting captured and sold into slavery, this is a war thing. Besides, we are the hunters this time."
Sheila looked thoughtful as she looked down at the other ship, "Maybe. It just feels… I don't know."
"In any case, Alexis deserve our help for all she's done," Rengosa said and moved up on Sheila's other side, "That alone make this worth it."
That got a nod from Sheila.
"Sweep the hold from the aft!" Alexis yelled in command, and a dozen of her crew moved to follow her orders. She then glanced back at us and pointed at me, before motioning for me to come.
"And now she's giving orders," I sighed, "What an unusual circumstance. Being ordered around by a woman, what is the world coming to."
That got a laugh from both my consorts, and Sheila grinned, "Something you aren't used to?"
"Never happened before."
With that, I walked down from the raised superstructure, and then over the plank laid between the railings of the two ships. Jumping down onto the deck, I looked around before I moved up to Alexis and the other captain.
The other captain was a older man with longer dark hair starting to go gray, a long beard, and green eyes.
"Captain," I said, giving her a nod before doing the same to him, "Other Captain."
Alexis sighed slightly, "Atregos, let me introduce Captain Hornswallow. He wished to meet the man that created those illusions around his ship."
"I have never seen such a thing, Mister Atregos," he said, "Nor have I seen such as your hand."
I raised my silver hand turned it over, "Eh, not my best work. But it works for now. You're a mage?"
He shook his head, "No, don't have the aptitude."
"Where is your ship mage?" Alexis asked, "All ships have one. Where is yours?"
Captain Hornswallow sighed, "Not at the moment, we were on our way to find a new one. Mister Darwell was lost in a storm two weeks ago trying to keep the ship from breaking apart."
"I take it he was successful then?" I asked, and glanced around. If I was a mage looking to cause maximum confusion and damage, where would I be?
Captain Hornswallow shook his head, "Not exactly. Fell and broke his neck on his way up the stairs."
Nodding, I quickly wove a spell to let me see magic, before I slowly turned and looked around. Nothing on the deck or upper hold. Slight shine where the fabric was below decks. But it seemed to be in every crate. Enchanted fabric?
No telltale glow of a mage. At least none I could identify. Alexis, Ren, and Sheila all glowed, both them and their equipment. Alexis' sword shone like it was made of liquid moonlight.
"As far as I can see, Captain," I said, "he is telling the truth. I don't see anyone using magic onboard. The fabric seems to be enchanted, however."
That got a satisfied nod from Alexis, "Very well, Captain," she said and turned back to him, "Let's go over your cargo manifest. Let's see what you can spare for us."
He looked surprised before he nodded, "...It seems like your reputation is true, Alexis of the Angels," he said, "Very well. Let's go over the cargo manifest. Would you care for a cup of tea, my Lady?"
"Thank you, that would be lovely."
I couldn't help but be amused as the two of them left for the cabin. I was hardly worried that he would somehow overpower her. The idea was outright silly.
But it seemed Alexis had gotten herself a reputation on this Plane. A good one as well, even despite her current profession as a privateer.
Turning around, I walked to look down at the men subdued in the hold. Just stay where you are and you'll be fine.
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We left the captured ship behind, and sailed on. I stood on the aft deck, watching as she disappeared into the distance.
Behind me, the crew started to sing.
I understood why, they had taken a prize. A valuable one as well; those enchanted fabrics would be sold at a nice price. With no damage taken, and no deaths on either side.
Minimal danger to them. That was a lot to celebrate.
Alexis even left the spices behind onboard the merchant vessel. A good tactic… they didn't lose all of their cargo, and didn't lose any men. They would continue sailing and trading. And would be more willing to surrender in the future, knowing they wouldn't be hurt and that they wouldn't lose all of their cargo.
Wise move.
"Mister Atregos, may I have a word?"
I looked to the side, seeing Alexis' second in command moving up to stand next to me, "Can I help you, Mister Barlow?"
"It is your woman, sir. Miss Ren," he said quietly, "The way she dresses… it is attracting attention among the men."
I nodded, and returned to watching the ship in the distance; it was raising its sails, and they were starting to fill, "Would be surprised if she didn't."
"You're not worried, sir?"
"If I thought there was some danger, perhaps," I said and shrugged, "But she can handle herself. However, you may wish to warn your men to keep their hands to themselves, or they might lose them."
He sighed, "Wish it was that simple. A beautiful woman like that… they may not listen."
"I suppose you may have to stock up on hooks and peglegs then," I suggested, raising my eyebrows at him, "They seem to handle Captain Castle well enough. Rengosa is just as, if not more, dangerous."
"I'll pass the word, sir."
"Please do. And also let them know that we are here as personal guests of Captain Castle. If they were to somehow survive Rengosa and myself, they would have to answer to her."
"And me," Sheila said as she joined us, "I'll have a word with her though, we both need new clothes," she commented, and leaned against the railing as she looked at her robes, "These don't exactly fit in around here."
"I think you look good," I supplied with a smile as Barlow struck a retreat with a nod, heading back towards the stairs.
That got a smile from her, and she moved to stand a bit closer to me, "Thank you. But these things are kind of… warm in this weather."
I grinned, "You're actually warm for once!"
She shook her head, "My robes are fine. But they aren't made for tropical climates or deserts."
"A bit silly considering how often we end up in one," I teased, before I shrugged, "Kinda a shame that enchanting clothes for that kind of thing wastes enchanting capacitance that could be filled with useful things."
She nodded, and I slipped my arm around her waist, "Yeah," she agreed, and frowned, "...I'll ask Alexis if she has any spares of what she's wearing. It's not just the warmth; long robes aren't the most practical to wear aboard a ship, especially if we're to spend quite a bit of time here."
I'd be the last person to complain about my Consorts in short skirts, so I just nodded, "Sounds like a plan."
"Alexis said we're heading for a port where we'll take on supplies," she continued with a small frown, "And that there was a lead there for the artifact."
"Hope so," I agreed, "I have some idea of what we need, but hopefully there will be some money left over for some metal, wood, and some other stuff. We're dangerously undergeared, all of us."
Sheila looked thoughtful, "Everything I have is fully enchanted, though. You enchanted it. Even these spare robes."
"Clearly not enchanted enough," I protested, and gave her a nuzzle at the side of her head, "We need shields, armour, weapons. Defenses and backups."
Sheila leaned slightly against me and frowned, "I prefer my magic to weapons, you know that. I've never really trained with anything like that, a little with a crossbow. And I know Ren hasn't either."
I smiled at her, "That we can fix. About time it's my turn to teach you two something."
"I'll think about it, okay?"
"Sure."
Behind me, the crew started to sing.
I understood why, they had taken a prize. A valuable one as well; those enchanted fabrics would be sold at a nice price. With no damage taken, and no deaths on either side.
Minimal danger to them. That was a lot to celebrate.
Alexis even left the spices behind onboard the merchant vessel. A good tactic… they didn't lose all of their cargo, and didn't lose any men. They would continue sailing and trading. And would be more willing to surrender in the future, knowing they wouldn't be hurt and that they wouldn't lose all of their cargo.
Wise move.
"Mister Atregos, may I have a word?"
I looked to the side, seeing Alexis' second in command moving up to stand next to me, "Can I help you, Mister Barlow?"
"It is your woman, sir. Miss Ren," he said quietly, "The way she dresses… it is attracting attention among the men."
I nodded, and returned to watching the ship in the distance; it was raising its sails, and they were starting to fill, "Would be surprised if she didn't."
"You're not worried, sir?"
"If I thought there was some danger, perhaps," I said and shrugged, "But she can handle herself. However, you may wish to warn your men to keep their hands to themselves, or they might lose them."
He sighed, "Wish it was that simple. A beautiful woman like that… they may not listen."
"I suppose you may have to stock up on hooks and peglegs then," I suggested, raising my eyebrows at him, "They seem to handle Captain Castle well enough. Rengosa is just as, if not more, dangerous."
"I'll pass the word, sir."
"Please do. And also let them know that we are here as personal guests of Captain Castle. If they were to somehow survive Rengosa and myself, they would have to answer to her."
"And me," Sheila said as she joined us, "I'll have a word with her though, we both need new clothes," she commented, and leaned against the railing as she looked at her robes, "These don't exactly fit in around here."
"I think you look good," I supplied with a smile as Barlow struck a retreat with a nod, heading back towards the stairs.
That got a smile from her, and she moved to stand a bit closer to me, "Thank you. But these things are kind of… warm in this weather."
I grinned, "You're actually warm for once!"
She shook her head, "My robes are fine. But they aren't made for tropical climates or deserts."
"A bit silly considering how often we end up in one," I teased, before I shrugged, "Kinda a shame that enchanting clothes for that kind of thing wastes enchanting capacitance that could be filled with useful things."
She nodded, and I slipped my arm around her waist, "Yeah," she agreed, and frowned, "...I'll ask Alexis if she has any spares of what she's wearing. It's not just the warmth; long robes aren't the most practical to wear aboard a ship, especially if we're to spend quite a bit of time here."
I'd be the last person to complain about my Consorts in short skirts, so I just nodded, "Sounds like a plan."
"Alexis said we're heading for a port where we'll take on supplies," she continued with a small frown, "And that there was a lead there for the artifact."
"Hope so," I agreed, "I have some idea of what we need, but hopefully there will be some money left over for some metal, wood, and some other stuff. We're dangerously undergeared, all of us."
Sheila looked thoughtful, "Everything I have is fully enchanted, though. You enchanted it. Even these spare robes."
"Clearly not enchanted enough," I protested, and gave her a nuzzle at the side of her head, "We need shields, armour, weapons. Defenses and backups."
Sheila leaned slightly against me and frowned, "I prefer my magic to weapons, you know that. I've never really trained with anything like that, a little with a crossbow. And I know Ren hasn't either."
I smiled at her, "That we can fix. About time it's my turn to teach you two something."
"I'll think about it, okay?"
"Sure."
Crossing my arms, I stood at the bow watching the anchors drop, while the crew worked hard to pull the sails back up. Likely was some kind of fancy name for it I didn't know.
The island we stopped at was clearly inhabited. There were jetties and smaller boats around, along with stone buildings, at least a hundred or so.
Not a big place, not nearly big enough to hold the Archangel at a dock, but large enough to resupply at. Now was the question of how to get the supplies I needed. Ren had carried some of our gold for trading. Sadly, we had already sold the majority of it.
A couple of necklaces and rings remained, but that was it.
I needed supplies to get everything working. That was the problem with not really being a combat spellcaster. I mean, I could cast spells, but that's not really my speciality. Enchanting was, and I needed something to enchant for that to work.
Not like I could just enchant nothing.
...Could I?
I mean… enchanting was magic, and it worked along lines of magic that was woven around the object. The shape of the object or the structure didn't really matter, did it? Well, what it was made of did, because the material caused troub-
Something hit my chest, and I just barely managed to catch the leather pouch before it fell to the ground. I blinked at it in surprise, before raising my eyes to Alexis, "Huh?"
"Your, Sheila, and Ren's shares of the prize we took," she clarified, "Usually it's handed out after it's actually sold, but I figured you three needed to stock up. Consider it a loan."
I grinned, "Thanks," and tossed it over to Sheila as she and Ren joined us. They were wearing more or less the same kind of thing as Alexis now, and I had to admit it looked good on all of them.
Sheila shook her head and tossed it back to me, "Have fun."
"Huh?"
"You know what you need for the equipment you're making. We'll sell what jewelry we have left, and use that cash for some clothes and other supplies," she clarified with a smile.
Oooh.
Shiny.
Tying it to my belt, I then blinked at the gloves Alexis was offering me, "...Oh, right, the hand."
"The hand indeed," she confirmed, "Less attention would be good," she said, before she looked between the three of us, "...That goes for all of you. Ren, I know you and Atregos are starting to get headaches, but keep things down. In a few days, we'll leave and I'll make sure to stop and take on some extra food on an uninhabited island. We should be there in about a week."
I nodded along with Ren as I put the gloves on, "Trouble? Us? Surely you jest."
Alexis just sighed and looked to Sheila, who nodded,
"I'll keep an eye on them."
Ren just kind of rolled her eyes and moved up to me, "New armour?" she asked, "For you, I mean?"
I frowned at the pouch of money before I shook my head, "Not for my real form, at least. Not nearly enough. But I'll find some stuff to get us all some new gear."
She nodded and nuzzled at my chin, "Good."
"How do the clothes feel?" I asked, as I put my arms around her waist.
"Humans are silly."
"Very. But you look good."
The look in her eyes told me that was a good thing to say, and she nuzzled me again before pulling back, "They are lowering the boat. We should get moving if we want on the first one," and walking off with an unnecessary amount of sway in her hips.
I swear, Sheila is giving her lessons or something.
XXXXXXXXXX
While Sheila and Ren were visiting the local general store to see what they could haggle, something Sheila was way better at than me anyway, I was looking around the harbor.
Mostly, I needed metal and a bit of wood. Pretty sure gems the size I needed would be completely out of my grasp, but I could work with glass in a pinch. I had already spotted a couple of discarded bottles that would work, after some purifying.
Sadly, just junk metal wouldn't work. A lot of the stuff I had seen was either pig iron or, at best, steel. Both of which sucked for enchanting.
Shaking my head, I moved past a guy hauling a box of fish. I looked around, taking in the scent of the sea, which admittedly was very nice.
Place was nice. Well, okay, maybe nice would be pushing it. But it didn't seem to be actively hostile, not oppressive in any way, which was nice. Could have been a bit cooler, but can't have everything.
Pretty nice all in all.
The sound of metal against metal guided me along the so-called street, until I found a stone and wood building with smoke coming out of a chimney. I could hear hammers on metal from the inside.
Smithy. Might have what I needed.
Pushing the door open, I looked inside. A smithy is a smithy is a smithy. Don't really care what Plane you are on. There is an anvil or two and a forge. The details may differ, but that's a smithy. This one was no different.
What differed, was the smith.
A naga was half coiled up on the floor as he hammered the shit out of what looked like an axe head. He was wearing a leather apron that almost seemed to turn into a blanket over his coiled lower body. Sensible, keeping metal sparks away.
"Hello?" I asked, and he paused mid swing, turning to look towards me.
"Yes?"
Is it racist that I expected him to elongate his esses, and not sound British?
"Yes, my name is Atreus, I'm looking to purchase some metal," I said with a smile, "Bronze to be precise."
"Don't have much bronze," he said, and shook his head.
I looked around, and then pointed at what looked like a pile of metal scrap at one end of the room. Weapons, horseshoes, and various other metal pieces like barrel rings. In the middle of it all laid a cannon with a crack down one side, "What about that one?"
He shook his head again, "Two pounder gun. Don't have what I need to melt the damn thing. Never should have bought it in the first place."
"How much?"
The naga shifted to look at it before he shrugged, "Twenty-five crowns. What I paid for it, I'm just glad to get rid of the damn thing to be honest."
"Bit steep," I said and moved over to inspect it, "I mean, I would have to melt it down too… fifteen?"
Some quick haggling, and we eventually agreed at twenty-two crowns. I had no idea how much that was, and in all honesty, I didn't really care.
I counted out the coins from the coin purse, and handed them over, "Thank you, pleasure doing business."
The Smith nodded, "Glad to be rid of it. Want me to gather some men up to help you move it, or do you have so…" before he kind of trailed off as I bent down and picked it up.
Son of a… that's one heavy fucker. Must be two hundred and twenty kilos at least!
With a groan, I forced the cannon onto my shoulder, "No, I'll manage. You wouldn't happen to know where I can find some leather and hardwood too, would you?"
The island we stopped at was clearly inhabited. There were jetties and smaller boats around, along with stone buildings, at least a hundred or so.
Not a big place, not nearly big enough to hold the Archangel at a dock, but large enough to resupply at. Now was the question of how to get the supplies I needed. Ren had carried some of our gold for trading. Sadly, we had already sold the majority of it.
A couple of necklaces and rings remained, but that was it.
I needed supplies to get everything working. That was the problem with not really being a combat spellcaster. I mean, I could cast spells, but that's not really my speciality. Enchanting was, and I needed something to enchant for that to work.
Not like I could just enchant nothing.
...Could I?
I mean… enchanting was magic, and it worked along lines of magic that was woven around the object. The shape of the object or the structure didn't really matter, did it? Well, what it was made of did, because the material caused troub-
Something hit my chest, and I just barely managed to catch the leather pouch before it fell to the ground. I blinked at it in surprise, before raising my eyes to Alexis, "Huh?"
"Your, Sheila, and Ren's shares of the prize we took," she clarified, "Usually it's handed out after it's actually sold, but I figured you three needed to stock up. Consider it a loan."
I grinned, "Thanks," and tossed it over to Sheila as she and Ren joined us. They were wearing more or less the same kind of thing as Alexis now, and I had to admit it looked good on all of them.
Sheila shook her head and tossed it back to me, "Have fun."
"Huh?"
"You know what you need for the equipment you're making. We'll sell what jewelry we have left, and use that cash for some clothes and other supplies," she clarified with a smile.
Oooh.
Shiny.
Tying it to my belt, I then blinked at the gloves Alexis was offering me, "...Oh, right, the hand."
"The hand indeed," she confirmed, "Less attention would be good," she said, before she looked between the three of us, "...That goes for all of you. Ren, I know you and Atregos are starting to get headaches, but keep things down. In a few days, we'll leave and I'll make sure to stop and take on some extra food on an uninhabited island. We should be there in about a week."
I nodded along with Ren as I put the gloves on, "Trouble? Us? Surely you jest."
Alexis just sighed and looked to Sheila, who nodded,
"I'll keep an eye on them."
Ren just kind of rolled her eyes and moved up to me, "New armour?" she asked, "For you, I mean?"
I frowned at the pouch of money before I shook my head, "Not for my real form, at least. Not nearly enough. But I'll find some stuff to get us all some new gear."
She nodded and nuzzled at my chin, "Good."
"How do the clothes feel?" I asked, as I put my arms around her waist.
"Humans are silly."
"Very. But you look good."
The look in her eyes told me that was a good thing to say, and she nuzzled me again before pulling back, "They are lowering the boat. We should get moving if we want on the first one," and walking off with an unnecessary amount of sway in her hips.
I swear, Sheila is giving her lessons or something.
XXXXXXXXXX
While Sheila and Ren were visiting the local general store to see what they could haggle, something Sheila was way better at than me anyway, I was looking around the harbor.
Mostly, I needed metal and a bit of wood. Pretty sure gems the size I needed would be completely out of my grasp, but I could work with glass in a pinch. I had already spotted a couple of discarded bottles that would work, after some purifying.
Sadly, just junk metal wouldn't work. A lot of the stuff I had seen was either pig iron or, at best, steel. Both of which sucked for enchanting.
Shaking my head, I moved past a guy hauling a box of fish. I looked around, taking in the scent of the sea, which admittedly was very nice.
Place was nice. Well, okay, maybe nice would be pushing it. But it didn't seem to be actively hostile, not oppressive in any way, which was nice. Could have been a bit cooler, but can't have everything.
Pretty nice all in all.
The sound of metal against metal guided me along the so-called street, until I found a stone and wood building with smoke coming out of a chimney. I could hear hammers on metal from the inside.
Smithy. Might have what I needed.
Pushing the door open, I looked inside. A smithy is a smithy is a smithy. Don't really care what Plane you are on. There is an anvil or two and a forge. The details may differ, but that's a smithy. This one was no different.
What differed, was the smith.
A naga was half coiled up on the floor as he hammered the shit out of what looked like an axe head. He was wearing a leather apron that almost seemed to turn into a blanket over his coiled lower body. Sensible, keeping metal sparks away.
"Hello?" I asked, and he paused mid swing, turning to look towards me.
"Yes?"
Is it racist that I expected him to elongate his esses, and not sound British?
"Yes, my name is Atreus, I'm looking to purchase some metal," I said with a smile, "Bronze to be precise."
"Don't have much bronze," he said, and shook his head.
I looked around, and then pointed at what looked like a pile of metal scrap at one end of the room. Weapons, horseshoes, and various other metal pieces like barrel rings. In the middle of it all laid a cannon with a crack down one side, "What about that one?"
He shook his head again, "Two pounder gun. Don't have what I need to melt the damn thing. Never should have bought it in the first place."
"How much?"
The naga shifted to look at it before he shrugged, "Twenty-five crowns. What I paid for it, I'm just glad to get rid of the damn thing to be honest."
"Bit steep," I said and moved over to inspect it, "I mean, I would have to melt it down too… fifteen?"
Some quick haggling, and we eventually agreed at twenty-two crowns. I had no idea how much that was, and in all honesty, I didn't really care.
I counted out the coins from the coin purse, and handed them over, "Thank you, pleasure doing business."
The Smith nodded, "Glad to be rid of it. Want me to gather some men up to help you move it, or do you have so…" before he kind of trailed off as I bent down and picked it up.
Son of a… that's one heavy fucker. Must be two hundred and twenty kilos at least!
With a groan, I forced the cannon onto my shoulder, "No, I'll manage. You wouldn't happen to know where I can find some leather and hardwood too, would you?"
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The door opened and Alexis poked her head inside, "...So I heard you decided to claim my quarters as a workshop?" she asked as she closed it behind her, one eyebrow raised.
"Sorry, just temporarily," I said and slowly shaped the bronze between my fingers, sliding it out into a tube, "Some of this is kind of sensitive."
Shifting the metal into the wood, I picked up one of the bottles. Shifting glass was more difficult than metal, but I didn't need to do anything complex. The green of the glass shifted as I moved it around into a simple prism, compressing and purifying it before I held it towards the top, parting the metal to slide it inside. Meanwhile, I shifted the metal into a simple mechanism as I finished the enchanting.
The wood had been the most difficult, I had to work that the old fashioned way. Couldn't quick-smith wood.
"What are you making?"
"Need ranged options," I said and aimed the weapon towards the wall. Going with the theme, I had styled it like a flintlock pistol, just ignoring the actual flintlock thing. And the gun, I suppose.
It was actually a kind of magic wand. Not in the Wizard kind of sense, but in the Azeroth kind of sense.
The glass crystal wasn't as good as a sapphire or a diamond, but it would be enough for maybe twenty shots. After that, it would take some thirty minutes to recharge the crystal from the environment.
A lot better than wasting time casting fireballs.
What spell they would cast would have been another question, but in the end I went with a simple focused magical blast. About as close to a actual gunshot as you could get, actually kind of similar to a magic missile.
Why complicate things? Besides, fireballs set fires, and not always where you want them. Not nearly the punch of a mana-laser though, which was annoying, but you work with what you have.
"I see," she said and crossed her arms, leaning back against the door, "They work?" she asked before she smiled a bit and shook her head, "Sorry, stupid question."
I smiled and put it with the other four, "Want one?"
"If you have enough," she agreed, "How are you doing?"
"Hmh?" I asked and pulled another handful of bronze from the cannon to compress and refine, "How do you mean?"
Alexis frowned, "Your arm."
I glanced down at the silver hand, "...It works for now. It'll be fine when I get back home."
She nodded slightly, "If you say so."
I looked over at her as I shifted the bronze between my hands, "Seriously, I'm fine. Just… aches from time to time. And you?"
She looked at me in surprise, "What?"
"You've changed, Alexis," I said as I pulled the bronze into a tube, "You are different from when I saw you last."
She sighed softly and crossed the room over to her desk, opening a drawer and pulling out a bottle of some kind of alcohol, "It's been a long… god, almost six years," she answered as she leaned back against the desk. She uncorked the bottle and took a sip before shuddering at the taste.
"...Yeah, I suppose it would have been," I admitted as I finished the fifth 'gun', "Wanna talk about it?"
Alexis smiled a bit, "I'll let you know if I do, Lizard," and then offered the bottle, "Want some?"
"Sure."
She tossed the bottle over and I took a sip before grimacing, "Oh lord, what is this? Paint thinner?"
"Been used as that too," she admitted, and caught it when I tossed it back over to her, "Burns well too."
I just shook my head, "How's resupplying going?"
"Well enough. Did you remake your weapon?" she asked and motioned towards what looked like a bronze leaf-bladed dagger laying on the floor next to where I was working.
I looked at it before I shook my head, then grabbed it as I stood up, "No, material limits kept me from doing any really interesting things," I admitted, and extended it into a two meter long spear, "It can switch between a spear and a dagger, as well as channel different elements, but that's about it," I explained as I shifted the blade between being encrusted with frost, bursting into flames, and crackling with electricity.
It was also as close to indestructible as I could make it, as well as supernaturally sharp.
Alexis just shook her head a bit, "Nothing special," she snorted, "Mind having a look at my sword? Just to see if it works like it should after half a decade without maintenance."
"Sure."
Like half a decade or even a full century would matter much. Might have been one of my early works, but I still made it after all.
"Sorry, just temporarily," I said and slowly shaped the bronze between my fingers, sliding it out into a tube, "Some of this is kind of sensitive."
Shifting the metal into the wood, I picked up one of the bottles. Shifting glass was more difficult than metal, but I didn't need to do anything complex. The green of the glass shifted as I moved it around into a simple prism, compressing and purifying it before I held it towards the top, parting the metal to slide it inside. Meanwhile, I shifted the metal into a simple mechanism as I finished the enchanting.
The wood had been the most difficult, I had to work that the old fashioned way. Couldn't quick-smith wood.
"What are you making?"
"Need ranged options," I said and aimed the weapon towards the wall. Going with the theme, I had styled it like a flintlock pistol, just ignoring the actual flintlock thing. And the gun, I suppose.
It was actually a kind of magic wand. Not in the Wizard kind of sense, but in the Azeroth kind of sense.
The glass crystal wasn't as good as a sapphire or a diamond, but it would be enough for maybe twenty shots. After that, it would take some thirty minutes to recharge the crystal from the environment.
A lot better than wasting time casting fireballs.
What spell they would cast would have been another question, but in the end I went with a simple focused magical blast. About as close to a actual gunshot as you could get, actually kind of similar to a magic missile.
Why complicate things? Besides, fireballs set fires, and not always where you want them. Not nearly the punch of a mana-laser though, which was annoying, but you work with what you have.
"I see," she said and crossed her arms, leaning back against the door, "They work?" she asked before she smiled a bit and shook her head, "Sorry, stupid question."
I smiled and put it with the other four, "Want one?"
"If you have enough," she agreed, "How are you doing?"
"Hmh?" I asked and pulled another handful of bronze from the cannon to compress and refine, "How do you mean?"
Alexis frowned, "Your arm."
I glanced down at the silver hand, "...It works for now. It'll be fine when I get back home."
She nodded slightly, "If you say so."
I looked over at her as I shifted the bronze between my hands, "Seriously, I'm fine. Just… aches from time to time. And you?"
She looked at me in surprise, "What?"
"You've changed, Alexis," I said as I pulled the bronze into a tube, "You are different from when I saw you last."
She sighed softly and crossed the room over to her desk, opening a drawer and pulling out a bottle of some kind of alcohol, "It's been a long… god, almost six years," she answered as she leaned back against the desk. She uncorked the bottle and took a sip before shuddering at the taste.
"...Yeah, I suppose it would have been," I admitted as I finished the fifth 'gun', "Wanna talk about it?"
Alexis smiled a bit, "I'll let you know if I do, Lizard," and then offered the bottle, "Want some?"
"Sure."
She tossed the bottle over and I took a sip before grimacing, "Oh lord, what is this? Paint thinner?"
"Been used as that too," she admitted, and caught it when I tossed it back over to her, "Burns well too."
I just shook my head, "How's resupplying going?"
"Well enough. Did you remake your weapon?" she asked and motioned towards what looked like a bronze leaf-bladed dagger laying on the floor next to where I was working.
I looked at it before I shook my head, then grabbed it as I stood up, "No, material limits kept me from doing any really interesting things," I admitted, and extended it into a two meter long spear, "It can switch between a spear and a dagger, as well as channel different elements, but that's about it," I explained as I shifted the blade between being encrusted with frost, bursting into flames, and crackling with electricity.
It was also as close to indestructible as I could make it, as well as supernaturally sharp.
Alexis just shook her head a bit, "Nothing special," she snorted, "Mind having a look at my sword? Just to see if it works like it should after half a decade without maintenance."
"Sure."
Like half a decade or even a full century would matter much. Might have been one of my early works, but I still made it after all.
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Sheila carefully took aim at the small barrel bobbing in the ship's wake on a rope. She slowly squeezed the trigger.
The weapon zapped, and a blast of energy flew at the barrel faster than a crossbow bolt, just about missing and splashing into the water.
"Damn it!" Sheila cursed, and lowered the magi-gun, "Almost had it this time!"
"That's almost thirty meters away," I said, and leaned against the railing, "Further than they are meant to be used."
Ranged option or not, they simply didn't have the power to shoot further. Thirty was the upper range they could actually do any damage. At forty, the 'projectile' just kind of dispersed into nothingness.
Oh well.
We work with what we have. At longer ranges I wouldn't be fucking about with fighting on my own anyway, that's what Witcher and such was for.
Sheila frowned, and took aim again at the barrel bobbing away mockingly behind the ship. The barrel had been enchanted to be able to take a hit or two.
But it was a difficult target. I had only been able to hit it twice, Sheila once and Ren hadn't tried yet.
Sheila took aim once more, and fired another magic blast towards the target. This time it missed by centimeters to the right, and she made a frustrated sound as the glass crystal built into the top stopped glowing blue, "It's out?"
"It's out. Should absorb enough mana in a couple of minutes for one shot. Fully charged in half an hour or so," I said with a nod, "At least here. Somewhere like Kaladesh it would probably not run out at all, it'd recharge faster than you could fire it."
She frowned at it thoughtfully, "Well… personally I prefer my spells to be honest. But soon I won't have those."
"Won't take you long to learn them again," I reassured her, "Just will be different ones."
Sliding the weapon into the holster on her belt, she turned to lean back against the railing, "...It'll be difficult, won't it? Getting used to a brand new body, learning new magic," before she rubbed her face for a second, "By the Light, I'm going to need to learn how to speak again! Like Jaina."
I nodded and put my arm around her, "It's not easy," I admitted, "Speaking from experience."
She took my hand and frowned in thought, "Yeah."
"But there are some big pros about it," I said and nuzzled at the top of her head, "For one thing, no dying of old age."
"...Well, there is that," she admitted and leaned against me, "I suppose spending a year or so getting back to where I am wouldn't be too bad in return for not aging."
"I would say so," I agreed.
"My turn?" Ren asked as she walked up to join us with a smile as she climbed up the stairs to the raised superstructure at the rear of the ship we were standing on.
Sheila nodded, "Your turn. It's tricky."
"Aim with the notches at the top of the barrel," I said, "Keep them level and try to lead the target; the blast is about as fast as a crossbow bolt. Perhaps a little faster."
Nodding, Ren gave it a try and I looked over my shoulder at the target. The blue bolt of energy missed by half a meter.
"...You're right, this is tricky," she said with a frown as she got ready to try again.
"I'm keeping mine as a backup," Sheila said, "I think I prefer my magic while I still have it."
Ren nodded and fired again.
"How's it going?" Alexis asked as she climbed up the stairs, "Getting the hang of it?"
"Eh, more or less," I said, "We properly on our way? Did you get any information?"
"I think so," She said, "Course is set for an island some three days travel from here. My source said a ship searching for the device went there and was never seen again. They apparently had something onboard they thought would lead them straight to it. Think you could find it?"
I frowned at that before I shrugged, "Maybe. Not a lot to go on to be honest. Scrying isn't an exact science most of the time. I'll try when we get closer."
Seriously, unless the thing was glowing with magic, I had no idea how I was going to find it.
The weapon zapped, and a blast of energy flew at the barrel faster than a crossbow bolt, just about missing and splashing into the water.
"Damn it!" Sheila cursed, and lowered the magi-gun, "Almost had it this time!"
"That's almost thirty meters away," I said, and leaned against the railing, "Further than they are meant to be used."
Ranged option or not, they simply didn't have the power to shoot further. Thirty was the upper range they could actually do any damage. At forty, the 'projectile' just kind of dispersed into nothingness.
Oh well.
We work with what we have. At longer ranges I wouldn't be fucking about with fighting on my own anyway, that's what Witcher and such was for.
Sheila frowned, and took aim again at the barrel bobbing away mockingly behind the ship. The barrel had been enchanted to be able to take a hit or two.
But it was a difficult target. I had only been able to hit it twice, Sheila once and Ren hadn't tried yet.
Sheila took aim once more, and fired another magic blast towards the target. This time it missed by centimeters to the right, and she made a frustrated sound as the glass crystal built into the top stopped glowing blue, "It's out?"
"It's out. Should absorb enough mana in a couple of minutes for one shot. Fully charged in half an hour or so," I said with a nod, "At least here. Somewhere like Kaladesh it would probably not run out at all, it'd recharge faster than you could fire it."
She frowned at it thoughtfully, "Well… personally I prefer my spells to be honest. But soon I won't have those."
"Won't take you long to learn them again," I reassured her, "Just will be different ones."
Sliding the weapon into the holster on her belt, she turned to lean back against the railing, "...It'll be difficult, won't it? Getting used to a brand new body, learning new magic," before she rubbed her face for a second, "By the Light, I'm going to need to learn how to speak again! Like Jaina."
I nodded and put my arm around her, "It's not easy," I admitted, "Speaking from experience."
She took my hand and frowned in thought, "Yeah."
"But there are some big pros about it," I said and nuzzled at the top of her head, "For one thing, no dying of old age."
"...Well, there is that," she admitted and leaned against me, "I suppose spending a year or so getting back to where I am wouldn't be too bad in return for not aging."
"I would say so," I agreed.
"My turn?" Ren asked as she walked up to join us with a smile as she climbed up the stairs to the raised superstructure at the rear of the ship we were standing on.
Sheila nodded, "Your turn. It's tricky."
"Aim with the notches at the top of the barrel," I said, "Keep them level and try to lead the target; the blast is about as fast as a crossbow bolt. Perhaps a little faster."
Nodding, Ren gave it a try and I looked over my shoulder at the target. The blue bolt of energy missed by half a meter.
"...You're right, this is tricky," she said with a frown as she got ready to try again.
"I'm keeping mine as a backup," Sheila said, "I think I prefer my magic while I still have it."
Ren nodded and fired again.
"How's it going?" Alexis asked as she climbed up the stairs, "Getting the hang of it?"
"Eh, more or less," I said, "We properly on our way? Did you get any information?"
"I think so," She said, "Course is set for an island some three days travel from here. My source said a ship searching for the device went there and was never seen again. They apparently had something onboard they thought would lead them straight to it. Think you could find it?"
I frowned at that before I shrugged, "Maybe. Not a lot to go on to be honest. Scrying isn't an exact science most of the time. I'll try when we get closer."
Seriously, unless the thing was glowing with magic, I had no idea how I was going to find it.
The sword passed by before my eyes for a split second before I moved forward, my dagger elongating into a spear as I swept it towards the back of her legs.
Alexis dodged backwards, avoiding my strike in one smooth movement. Mostly all of this was so I could try out my new equipment, but also to get some practice in.
So far, working well.
Moving back in, as quick as a snake, Alexis stabbed towards my left side. Raising my left arm quickly, I gave my vambrace a quick a quick burst of magic, and a half-sphere of magic sprung into existence between us, deflecting her blow.
Dropping my dagger, I stepped forward into her strike, reaching for her wrist as I let the shield drop. Alexis was not having it however, and threw herself backwards out of range again.
A shift of magic into my right vambrace caused the dagger to shimmer out of view, and reappear in my right hand.
Alexis grinned, "Nothing fancy, huh?" she asked, and gave her sword a small whirl in her hand, circling towards the right.
"Nothing fancy," I agreed and extended the dagger to half a meter long handle.
Moving fast, Alexis feinted to the right before moving in from the left. I flicked my shield back into life to block, but instead of pulling back or having her sword deflected, she changed her attack.
White mana lashed out in a thin layer all around, and her eyes flashed before she punched my shield.
The magic flashed and then detonated in a whum of sound and colours, sending me onto my back on the desk.
Holy shit! That shield would have stopped a charging bull dead!
"...You picked up a couple of tricks since last I saw you," I said as I slowly picked myself off the deck to the cheers of her crew, summoning my dagger back to my hand.
"I have."
"So have I. Admittedly, I haven't had quite as much time to practice," I continued, "So you want to make things more interesting?"
She grinned, "Love too," and gave her sword another whirl as she drifted towards the left.
I pulled one of my six magi-guns and shot her in the face. Or rather, tried. She moved quickly to the right, avoiding the shot.
I didn't think it would hit anyway, it was just a diversion anyway and I dropped the gun, finishing casting my illusions in the area around her.
Thick mist burst up from the deck, shadows of creatures moving within, and ear-splitting loud noises assaulted her. None of which would really stop Alexis, but it would be enough of a distraction for me to finish my next spell, summoning Paladin next to me and sending her into battle.
The sound of metal against metal rang through the air as Alexis' sword hit Paladin's shield, before she dodged back to avoid the return strike from Paladin's mace.
Taking a couple more seconds, I pulled out my frost troll and sent that into battle as well, before I followed suit.
By the time the troll reached the mist, Alexis was rushing out. White energy flickered around her, then a large circle of white light exploded out around her on the ground, sending both Paladin and the frost troll flying backwards.
Paladin went over the railing, and a couple of guys of her crew scrambled out of the way to avoid being crushed by a flying troll. Now Alexis looked annoyed.
Holding her sword up, her eyes glowed brightly white and the air around her kinda rippled as her Angel summon appeared next to her.
Oh crap.
Well, if she wants to pull out the monsters, so can I. Witcher was summoned in turn, followed by a resummon of Paladin. Grasping a metal cube from my belt, I flicked it towards them and it exploded into a bright blue shield between us, buying time.
Her angel lifted off the deck, wings slowly moving as Alexis pulled on her mana again, "Let's try this again," she continued and this time the mana she pulled on was clearly blue, and a large amount of it at that. It didn't seem to do anything, though.
Summoning Rogue, I tossed her one of the magi-guns to her as I extended my spear to full length, "Lets."
That's when massive tentacles rose from the waves all around the ship, some of them over a meter thick and covered with foot long spikes or suckers.
I looked at them before I looked at Alexis and her grin as she lowered her sword, holding it out and towards the side,
"Well? Shall we?" she asked.
We fucking shall. As the shield dropped between us, I channeled my magic and returned to my real form, before throwing my strongest unsummon at the closest tentacle.
Her eyes widened in surprise as the kraken popped out of existence and she quickly raised her sword as I swung my tail, half spreading my wings while keeping an eye on the floating angel.
"Let's," I agreed, baring my teeth as my bronze claws dug into the wooden deck.
"What in the twisting nether is going on here!?"
That was Sheila, emerging from the stairs leading up from the hold. She looked kinda pissed. I glanced around, at my summons and at the floating angel.
...We may have overdone it a bit.
Alexis dodged backwards, avoiding my strike in one smooth movement. Mostly all of this was so I could try out my new equipment, but also to get some practice in.
So far, working well.
Moving back in, as quick as a snake, Alexis stabbed towards my left side. Raising my left arm quickly, I gave my vambrace a quick a quick burst of magic, and a half-sphere of magic sprung into existence between us, deflecting her blow.
Dropping my dagger, I stepped forward into her strike, reaching for her wrist as I let the shield drop. Alexis was not having it however, and threw herself backwards out of range again.
A shift of magic into my right vambrace caused the dagger to shimmer out of view, and reappear in my right hand.
Alexis grinned, "Nothing fancy, huh?" she asked, and gave her sword a small whirl in her hand, circling towards the right.
"Nothing fancy," I agreed and extended the dagger to half a meter long handle.
Moving fast, Alexis feinted to the right before moving in from the left. I flicked my shield back into life to block, but instead of pulling back or having her sword deflected, she changed her attack.
White mana lashed out in a thin layer all around, and her eyes flashed before she punched my shield.
The magic flashed and then detonated in a whum of sound and colours, sending me onto my back on the desk.
Holy shit! That shield would have stopped a charging bull dead!
"...You picked up a couple of tricks since last I saw you," I said as I slowly picked myself off the deck to the cheers of her crew, summoning my dagger back to my hand.
"I have."
"So have I. Admittedly, I haven't had quite as much time to practice," I continued, "So you want to make things more interesting?"
She grinned, "Love too," and gave her sword another whirl as she drifted towards the left.
I pulled one of my six magi-guns and shot her in the face. Or rather, tried. She moved quickly to the right, avoiding the shot.
I didn't think it would hit anyway, it was just a diversion anyway and I dropped the gun, finishing casting my illusions in the area around her.
Thick mist burst up from the deck, shadows of creatures moving within, and ear-splitting loud noises assaulted her. None of which would really stop Alexis, but it would be enough of a distraction for me to finish my next spell, summoning Paladin next to me and sending her into battle.
The sound of metal against metal rang through the air as Alexis' sword hit Paladin's shield, before she dodged back to avoid the return strike from Paladin's mace.
Taking a couple more seconds, I pulled out my frost troll and sent that into battle as well, before I followed suit.
By the time the troll reached the mist, Alexis was rushing out. White energy flickered around her, then a large circle of white light exploded out around her on the ground, sending both Paladin and the frost troll flying backwards.
Paladin went over the railing, and a couple of guys of her crew scrambled out of the way to avoid being crushed by a flying troll. Now Alexis looked annoyed.
Holding her sword up, her eyes glowed brightly white and the air around her kinda rippled as her Angel summon appeared next to her.
Oh crap.
Well, if she wants to pull out the monsters, so can I. Witcher was summoned in turn, followed by a resummon of Paladin. Grasping a metal cube from my belt, I flicked it towards them and it exploded into a bright blue shield between us, buying time.
Her angel lifted off the deck, wings slowly moving as Alexis pulled on her mana again, "Let's try this again," she continued and this time the mana she pulled on was clearly blue, and a large amount of it at that. It didn't seem to do anything, though.
Summoning Rogue, I tossed her one of the magi-guns to her as I extended my spear to full length, "Lets."
That's when massive tentacles rose from the waves all around the ship, some of them over a meter thick and covered with foot long spikes or suckers.
I looked at them before I looked at Alexis and her grin as she lowered her sword, holding it out and towards the side,
"Well? Shall we?" she asked.
We fucking shall. As the shield dropped between us, I channeled my magic and returned to my real form, before throwing my strongest unsummon at the closest tentacle.
Her eyes widened in surprise as the kraken popped out of existence and she quickly raised her sword as I swung my tail, half spreading my wings while keeping an eye on the floating angel.
"Let's," I agreed, baring my teeth as my bronze claws dug into the wooden deck.
"What in the twisting nether is going on here!?"
That was Sheila, emerging from the stairs leading up from the hold. She looked kinda pissed. I glanced around, at my summons and at the floating angel.
...We may have overdone it a bit.
"In retrospect, it wasn't a bad thing, it means that we can use our real forms now and not terrify the crew," I suggested to Sheila.
She didn't look overly convinced, and instead she looked over at Alexis. We were in the captain's cabin, away from the rest of the crew.
"Now, I get why Atreus did what he did, but what got into you?"
Alexis shrugged slightly, "Things just kinda escalated. But in all honesty, it's really is a good thing that the dragon is out of the bag, so to speak, when it comes to my crew. We might need Atreus and Ren to do that at some point… and I'd rather nobody get jumpy with a cannon in combat."
I nodded quickly.
Without my armour, getting shot by one of those might actually kill me.
I then frowned at Sheila, "Wait, what do you mean, 'Get why Atreus did it'?"
She sighed softly and looked over at me, "Atreus, I love you, but you and Ren are basically dragon teenagers. You're bound to be boneheaded at times and get caught up in the moment, especially after a couple of weeks of increasing pressure from being in human form."
"That's…" I started to say before I faltered a bit. I was going to protest that it was completely ridiculous, dragon growth didn't work that way… but looking back…
"...Possible a semi-valid point…" I admitted, and crossed my arms, "But I also think that we really should get some practice time in where we can get some training on how to fight another Planeswalker. Because last time, didn't go so well for us."
Alexis frowned, "I'm not sure that…"
"Actually, I think he has a point," Sheila admitted and sighed, jumping up to sit on the desk next to where Alexis was leaning against it, "As Ren would say, we got our tails bit off. It wasn't just the power of her spells, it was the… range and variety. The creatures and other spells, we had never fought anyone like that before."
"...I've never really fought another Planeswalker," Alexis admitted, and fingered the hilt on her sword, "Maybe practicing that would be a good idea. But not onboard the ship, we'd wreck it."
"We could find an island?" I suggested.
Alexis nodded, "When we're taking on supplies. Can't afford to stop just for that."
"How far are we from our destination?" I asked while looking out the window at the waves outside.
"Week or so," Alexis said and pushed away from the desk, "Now, I'm going to see my shipwright how the replacing of the planks in my deck is going. Somebody almost cut through them with his claws."
Oops.
As she left, I looked at Sheila, "Teenage dragon?"
She grinned, and made her way over to me, "Took me a bit to figure out, but it makes way too much sense not to be true."
Grumbling, I pulled her into a hug, "Well, you're joining us soon."
Sheila rested her head against my chest with a groan, "...Oh crap, I was stupid enough last time. Not sure I want to know what I'll get up to when also being larger than a horse with claws like daggers."
I grinned down at her, "What, you? Got in trouble?"
"You don't want to know."
"Fairly sure I do. When I go get Wrathion, maybe we should visit your parents and a-opmh!"
Chuckling, I hugged her close, and then rested my forehead against hers, "...Sorry for getting carried away."
"It's fine," she said and ran her fingers through my hair before she smiled, "Come on, let's find Ren and get something to eat. I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
"Hmm," I agreed and pulled her closer, nosing, "Starving, huh?"
That got a giggle from her, "Not here!! This place barely has any walls!"
Aww.
Grinning, she extracted herself from my arms and took my hand, pulling me towards the door, "Come on already!"
Speaking of food though, I was actually getting a bit hungry. Following along up onto the desk, then frowned towards the horizon.
...Is it me or are those some really dark and foreboding clouds?
She didn't look overly convinced, and instead she looked over at Alexis. We were in the captain's cabin, away from the rest of the crew.
"Now, I get why Atreus did what he did, but what got into you?"
Alexis shrugged slightly, "Things just kinda escalated. But in all honesty, it's really is a good thing that the dragon is out of the bag, so to speak, when it comes to my crew. We might need Atreus and Ren to do that at some point… and I'd rather nobody get jumpy with a cannon in combat."
I nodded quickly.
Without my armour, getting shot by one of those might actually kill me.
I then frowned at Sheila, "Wait, what do you mean, 'Get why Atreus did it'?"
She sighed softly and looked over at me, "Atreus, I love you, but you and Ren are basically dragon teenagers. You're bound to be boneheaded at times and get caught up in the moment, especially after a couple of weeks of increasing pressure from being in human form."
"That's…" I started to say before I faltered a bit. I was going to protest that it was completely ridiculous, dragon growth didn't work that way… but looking back…
"...Possible a semi-valid point…" I admitted, and crossed my arms, "But I also think that we really should get some practice time in where we can get some training on how to fight another Planeswalker. Because last time, didn't go so well for us."
Alexis frowned, "I'm not sure that…"
"Actually, I think he has a point," Sheila admitted and sighed, jumping up to sit on the desk next to where Alexis was leaning against it, "As Ren would say, we got our tails bit off. It wasn't just the power of her spells, it was the… range and variety. The creatures and other spells, we had never fought anyone like that before."
"...I've never really fought another Planeswalker," Alexis admitted, and fingered the hilt on her sword, "Maybe practicing that would be a good idea. But not onboard the ship, we'd wreck it."
"We could find an island?" I suggested.
Alexis nodded, "When we're taking on supplies. Can't afford to stop just for that."
"How far are we from our destination?" I asked while looking out the window at the waves outside.
"Week or so," Alexis said and pushed away from the desk, "Now, I'm going to see my shipwright how the replacing of the planks in my deck is going. Somebody almost cut through them with his claws."
Oops.
As she left, I looked at Sheila, "Teenage dragon?"
She grinned, and made her way over to me, "Took me a bit to figure out, but it makes way too much sense not to be true."
Grumbling, I pulled her into a hug, "Well, you're joining us soon."
Sheila rested her head against my chest with a groan, "...Oh crap, I was stupid enough last time. Not sure I want to know what I'll get up to when also being larger than a horse with claws like daggers."
I grinned down at her, "What, you? Got in trouble?"
"You don't want to know."
"Fairly sure I do. When I go get Wrathion, maybe we should visit your parents and a-opmh!"
Chuckling, I hugged her close, and then rested my forehead against hers, "...Sorry for getting carried away."
"It's fine," she said and ran her fingers through my hair before she smiled, "Come on, let's find Ren and get something to eat. I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
"Hmm," I agreed and pulled her closer, nosing, "Starving, huh?"
That got a giggle from her, "Not here!! This place barely has any walls!"
Aww.
Grinning, she extracted herself from my arms and took my hand, pulling me towards the door, "Come on already!"
Speaking of food though, I was actually getting a bit hungry. Following along up onto the desk, then frowned towards the horizon.
...Is it me or are those some really dark and foreboding clouds?
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10
Sadly, I had been right.
The ship creaked loudly, protesting her treatment at the hands of the weather as she wallowed through the waves.
Ren clung to a support, her eyes closed tightly as Sheila hugged her. Ren did not like the storm. Not at all.
Turns out that as things got bumpy, Ren got seasick.
But she also refused my offer of a sleeping spell, so there wasn't much we could do about it, just hang on tight and wait it out.
Speaking of seasickness though, I was feeling more than a bit queasy myself, and clung to the other side of the same support, squeezing her hand.
She squeezed back and opened her eyes, "...C-can you check how much longer this will…"
Move? Now?
Nodding, I released the wooden support, carefully worked my way onto my feet, digging my silver claws into the wall so it only threw me around a bit.
Okay. Mission, find Alexis.
The crew I spotted seemed a lot more relaxed about the entire thing, laying in their hammocks or even playing cards!
Unpleasant or not, it can't be that serious of a situation then. But I sure knew I wouldn't like to try flying in the weather out there, it would be a pain in the neck.
Luckily in the heaving ship, I didn't need to go far to get to the captain's quarters, Sheila had claimed an area just a bit away.
Digging the claws on my silver hands into a beam, I rapped on the door only to get a 'enter' yelled out to me.
Waiting for the ship to shift over, I then pulled the door open and ducked inside, closing it behind me. Alexis looked relaxed in her hammock, a book in her lap and a small glowing… fairy? Sitting by her head providing her with light.
"Hey," she said with a grin, "Almost thought you and the others would be finding a bucket by now."
"...not far off," I admitted, digging the claws in for support, "Any idea how long this will last?"
She shrugged and got out of her hammock, "Likely won't last much longer than tomorrow," she said and made her way over to the desk, "Try to stay in your hammocks, it helps with the swaying. Also, this," she added and pulled a small box from the desk.
"What's that?"
"Herb, grows on the islands here. Chewing it makes sea sickness just go away," she said before she hesitated, "...At least among humans, dwarfs and elves. Nagas don't get seasick. I honestly have no idea what it does to dragons."
"I'm sure it's fine. Give."
She smirked, "Not sure… maybe it's like dogs and chocolate…"
I growled at her and she grinned, tossing the small box over for me to catch. I caught it with no real difficulty before I shrugged, "Even if it was, dragons are resistant to most poisons."
"That's useful," Alexis agreed, "But think about getting into the hammocks. I know it feels like it would be unsteady when the ship moves like this, but it really does help."
"Yeah, we'll gi-"
There was an almighty crash that rocked the ship. The deck just disappeared beneath my feet for a split second, my claws were torn from the roofing beam, and I was sent rolling across the deck until my back hit the wall.
"What the fuck!" I cursed and started to get up. Already people were yelling and Alexis was scrambling across the floor towards the door.
"What happened?" I yelled and struggled to my feet, when there was another almighty crash, and only my claws dug into the wooden wall stopped me from being thrown to the deck again .
"We hit something!"
The ship creaked loudly, protesting her treatment at the hands of the weather as she wallowed through the waves.
Ren clung to a support, her eyes closed tightly as Sheila hugged her. Ren did not like the storm. Not at all.
Turns out that as things got bumpy, Ren got seasick.
But she also refused my offer of a sleeping spell, so there wasn't much we could do about it, just hang on tight and wait it out.
Speaking of seasickness though, I was feeling more than a bit queasy myself, and clung to the other side of the same support, squeezing her hand.
She squeezed back and opened her eyes, "...C-can you check how much longer this will…"
Move? Now?
Nodding, I released the wooden support, carefully worked my way onto my feet, digging my silver claws into the wall so it only threw me around a bit.
Okay. Mission, find Alexis.
The crew I spotted seemed a lot more relaxed about the entire thing, laying in their hammocks or even playing cards!
Unpleasant or not, it can't be that serious of a situation then. But I sure knew I wouldn't like to try flying in the weather out there, it would be a pain in the neck.
Luckily in the heaving ship, I didn't need to go far to get to the captain's quarters, Sheila had claimed an area just a bit away.
Digging the claws on my silver hands into a beam, I rapped on the door only to get a 'enter' yelled out to me.
Waiting for the ship to shift over, I then pulled the door open and ducked inside, closing it behind me. Alexis looked relaxed in her hammock, a book in her lap and a small glowing… fairy? Sitting by her head providing her with light.
"Hey," she said with a grin, "Almost thought you and the others would be finding a bucket by now."
"...not far off," I admitted, digging the claws in for support, "Any idea how long this will last?"
She shrugged and got out of her hammock, "Likely won't last much longer than tomorrow," she said and made her way over to the desk, "Try to stay in your hammocks, it helps with the swaying. Also, this," she added and pulled a small box from the desk.
"What's that?"
"Herb, grows on the islands here. Chewing it makes sea sickness just go away," she said before she hesitated, "...At least among humans, dwarfs and elves. Nagas don't get seasick. I honestly have no idea what it does to dragons."
"I'm sure it's fine. Give."
She smirked, "Not sure… maybe it's like dogs and chocolate…"
I growled at her and she grinned, tossing the small box over for me to catch. I caught it with no real difficulty before I shrugged, "Even if it was, dragons are resistant to most poisons."
"That's useful," Alexis agreed, "But think about getting into the hammocks. I know it feels like it would be unsteady when the ship moves like this, but it really does help."
"Yeah, we'll gi-"
There was an almighty crash that rocked the ship. The deck just disappeared beneath my feet for a split second, my claws were torn from the roofing beam, and I was sent rolling across the deck until my back hit the wall.
"What the fuck!" I cursed and started to get up. Already people were yelling and Alexis was scrambling across the floor towards the door.
"What happened?" I yelled and struggled to my feet, when there was another almighty crash, and only my claws dug into the wooden wall stopped me from being thrown to the deck again .
"We hit something!"